Road Shark Returns: Focusing on Safer Roads This April

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Fairfax County, VA – As warmer weather arrives and more people travel throughout the region, the Fairfax County Police Department’s Traffic Safety Division is highlighting several traffic safety initiatives taking place in April. These efforts focus on reducing crashes, preventing deaths and serious injuries, and improving safety for everyone who travels Fairfax County roadways.

This month, officers will focus enforcement and education efforts on distracted driving, impaired driving, and the return of the department’s Road Shark initiative, all aimed at encouraging safer driving habits throughout the community.

With spring bringing more drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians outdoors, these initiatives serve as an important reminder that safe driving choices help protect everyone on the road.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month:

This month, officers will participate in the national “U Drive, U Text, U Pay” campaign to address distracted driving. Cell phone use, including texting, social media, and phone calls, remains one of the most common distractions behind the wheel. Other distractions may include adjusting navigation systems, eating or drinking, or interacting with passengers.

Even a few seconds of distraction can prevent a driver from reacting in time to avoid a crash. Through this initiative, officers will focus enforcement efforts on drivers using mobile devices while driving and remind motorists that distracted driving can have deadly consequences.

If You Feel Different, You Drive Different

Officers will highlight the dangers of driving while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or other substances through the “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different” campaign.

Drivers who are impaired place themselves, their passengers, and everyone sharing the roadway at risk. The message is simple: Impairment is impairment, regardless of the substance.

You are encouraged to plan ahead by using rideshare services, designating a sober driver, or arranging another safe way home.

Road Shark Returns in 2026

The department’s Road Shark initiative returns in 2026, continuing a long-standing enforcement effort aimed at reducing speeding and aggressive driving across Fairfax County.

Road Shark Wave 1 will run April 20 through April 26, with officers conducting focused enforcement efforts in areas where speeding and aggressive driving are known concerns.

For more than two decades, speeding has remained a significant factor in serious and fatal crashes nationwide. Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to react to hazards and increases the severity of crashes. It can also make everyday driving conditions more dangerous, including traveling at night, during poor weather, or through work zones.

Tips for Safer Spring Driving

As temperatures rise and outdoor activity increases, drivers can help keep Fairfax County roads safer by following a few simple reminders:

  • Put the phone away and stay focused on driving
  • Plan a sober ride before consuming alcohol or drugs
  • Follow posted speed limits and adjust speed for road conditions
  • Stay alert for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycles
  • Allow extra space between vehicles and avoid aggressive driving

By making safe choices behind the wheel, drivers can help reduce crashes and protect everyone traveling through Fairfax County.

Register your camera with Connect Fairfax County to help FCPD solve crimes, locate missing people, and support investigations.

For updates on traffic safety initiatives, campaign results, and enforcement efforts, follow us on  X, Facebook, and Instagram at @FairfaxCountyPD.